12 months! Please tell me it gets better?!

[Whineywhinewhine]

My dog is incredibly needy. Has been for the last few months. He is 1 year old. I cannot sit at my desk and work without him pawing at me, scratching the desk and whining. I WFH.

I end up shutting him in the kitchen (where his bed is). Sometimes he'll settle, sometimes not. I just thought he'd settle by my feet in his other bed and be happy to be next to me?

I'm trying to teach him to settle by giving him treats if he gets on his bed, but he just won't make the connection! He'll get off and continue bothering me. Been trying this for a few weeks now.

He gets multiple walks per day, kongs, lickimats, chews, puzzle toys etc. plus lots of attention throughout the day. A very happy dog, but so so desperate for attention.

It's utterly draining me. I feel like I cannot get anything done.

Please tell me one day it gets better?

Er ny dog is 3 and it hasnt got better 🤣

But, i have got used to it

Can you try tethering?

Welcome to dog adolescence. It does get better if you stay consistent with boundaries. When might depend on the breed. My cockapoo was just under 2 when she stopped being a pain in the arse. My Labrador was probably nearly 4 (and there’s still moments now)!

Oh god.
Hm I could try tying his lead next to his bed. And then chuck treats at him. Worth a go I guess!!

I have a Shih Tzu! I try to be consistent, as in I do the same thing over and over, but he never does what I want... I'm just praying it's all sinking in and one day he'll understand!

My little dog is the same,i find if i put her bed on a chair at the same height next to me she just goes to sleep - they just want to be near you.

I have a high rise bed it has a little ramp so he's right next to me while I work big walk before work for at least an hour, lunch walk evening walk as you say lots of treats and chews. Then play as much as you can in the evening I find spring summer better if you have a high fence garden they can nip out more but my shihtzu hates the rain so we tend to have to do more in the house this time of year we get walk refusal if it's really windy and heavy rain 🤣

Remember, you have a dog who has literally been bred to want to have human contact pretty much 24-7 - shih-tzus are a companion breed, so when you ask him to settle away from you, you're asking him to go against thousands of years of breeding. It's a bit like asking a beagle not to follow a scent, or a collie not to herd.

Unfortunately, that means any kind of settle or separation training is going to be extra difficult - because it's just not in his nature to be alone and apart from you. I agree with PP who says a tether or a play pen type thing is probably your best chance at success because it means he physically has no choice - however it will mean lots and lots of reinforcement and repetition, and the truth is that many companion type dogs never really "get" it - at least, not to the extent that more independent breeds do.

It does get better … mine is a small dog and by 3-4 was calm now she is 6 and suddenly seems like an old tired girl

I’d stop giving him so many treats and food stimulation games…you’re literally shoving energy into him, so of course he can’t settle.

Food stimulation games (Kongs, snuffle matts etc) are literally the root of all evil for 99.9% of owners. They are not a solution to a dog with high mental needs or one that won’t relax.

I ignore my dogs when they beg for attention - it takes time (a few weeks) but they soon learn that if they are patient, attention or food comes their way.